Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) returned to the Capitol on Monday, casting his first Senate vote in more than three months after a fall at his Washington home left him hospitalized.
The 84-year-old senator arrived in a wheelchair and briefly addressed reporters outside the Senate chamber.
“Time to get back to work, finish the job of this Congress,” McConnell said, according to The Hill.
McConnell then voted to advance the nomination of Matthew Byrne to serve as a federal judge for the Southern District of Ohio. The cloture motion passed 47-46, according to the official Senate roll call.
His lengthy absence had fueled questions about his health and whether he would return before his term ends in January. McConnell acknowledged that his recovery has been difficult, saying he is “still not quite back to 100 percent” and continues to undergo physical therapy.
The Kentucky Republican said the lingering effects of childhood polio have complicated his recovery, but he has assured Senate Majority Leader John Thune that he will try to attend closely contested votes when Republicans need him.
McConnell also identified the farm bill, NATO and continued support for Ukraine as priorities during his remaining months in office. His return gives Senate Republicans another crucial vote as they attempt to move stalled legislation through closely divided committees.
McConnell has served in the Senate since 1985 and is retiring when his current term concludes in January.
